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https://archive.org/details/letterofchristop01colu 


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Bditt  of  C$mfop$£tr  (CofumBus, 

tbe  great  benefactor  of  the  present  age,  concerning 
the  newly  discovered  Islands  of  India  upon  tbe  Gan- 
ges, upon  which  enterprise  be  was  despatched  eight 
months  since  by  tbe  Invincible  Sovereigns  of  Spain, 
ferdinand  and  Isabella;  directed  to  Don  Rafael  San- 
chez, treasurer  of  tbelr  most  Serene  Rigbnesses. 
translated  from  tbe  Spanish  Into  Latin  by  Leandro 
de  Cosco,  Hprll  25,  1493,  first  year  of  tbe  pontificate 
of  Hlesander  VI- 


facsimile  Reprint  of  tbe  original  Gdition,  with  an  Gngllsb 
translation  appended. 


Hlbany,  JL  Y- 
Joseph  JVIcDonougb 
1900 


h (L 

Ui 


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©ranarat 


TRANSLATION. 


LETTER  OF  CHRISTOPHER  COLUMBUS, 
tbs  great  benefactor  of  the  present  age,  con- 
cerning the  newly  discovered  islands  of  India 
upon  the  Ganges,  upon  which  enterprise  he 
was  despatched  eight  months  since  by  the  in- 
vincible Sovereigns  of  Spain,  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella;  directed  to  Don  Rafael  Sanche;, 
Treasurer  of  their  most  Serene  Highnesses. 
Translated  from  the  Spanish  into  Latin  by 
Leandro  de  Cosco,  April  25,  1493,  first  year 
of  the  pontificate  of  Alexander  HI. 

As  I know  you  will  take  pleasure  in  hearing  of 
the  success  of  my  undertaking,  1 have  determined 
to  send  you  an  account  of  the  occurrences  of  my 
voyage  and  discoveries.  Thirty-three  days  after 
my  departure  from  Cadiz  1 arrived  in  the  sea  of 
India,  where  I discovered  many  islands,  inhabited 
by  innumerable  people.  Of  these  I took  posses- 


2 


sion  in  the  name  of  our  fortunate  monarch,  with 
public  proclamation  and  colors  flying,  no  one  of- 
fering any  resistance.  I named  the  first  of  these 
islands  San  Salvador,  thus  bestowing  upon  it  the 
name  of  our  holy  Saviour,  under  whose  protection 
1 made  the  discovery.  The  Indians  call  it  Gua- 
nahanyn.  1 gave  also  a new  name  to  the  others, 
calling  the  second  Santa  Maria  de  la  Concepcion, 
the  third  Fernandina,  the  fourth  Isabella,  the  fifth 
Juana.  In  the  same  manner  I named  the  rest. 
Arriving  at  the  one  last  mentioned,  1 sailed  along 
the  coast  toward  the  West,  discovering  so  great 
an  extent  of  land  that  I could  not  imagine  it  to  be 
an  island,  but  the  continent  of  Cathay.  1 did  not, 
however,  discover  upon  the  coast  any  large  cities, 
all  we  saw  being  a few  villages  and  farms,  with 
the  inhabitants  of  which  we  could  not  obtain  any 
communication,  they  all  flying  at  our  approach. 
1 continued  my  course,  still  expecting  to  meet 
with  some  town  or  city,  but  after  having  gone  a 
great  distance,  and  not  meeting  with  any,  and  find- 
ing myself  proceeding  toward  the  North,  which  1 
was  desirous  to  avoid  on  account  of  the  cold,  and, 
moreover,  meeting  with  a contrary  wind,  I deter- 
mined to  return  to  the  South,  and,  therefore,  put 


3 

about  and  sailed  back  to  a harbour  which  I had 
before  observed. 

At  this  place  1 sent  two  men  into  the  country  to 
see  if  the  king  or  any  cities  were  to  be  found. 
These  returned  in  three  days,  having  discovered  a 
great  number  of  towns,  but  all  of  them  small,  and 
without  any  government.  In  the  meantime  I had 
learned  from  certain  Indians  whom  I had  taken 
here  that  this  country  was  an  island.  1 returned 
along  the  coast  to  the  east,  a distance  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty-two  miles,  which  brought 
me  to  the  extremity  of  the  island.  Here  1 discov- 
ered to  the  East  another  island,  fifty-four  miles 
from  Juana.  1 gave  it  the  name  of  Espanola,  and 
coasted  along  the  island  to  the  North  as  at  Juana 
I had  proceeded  to  the  East,  a distance  of  five 
hundred  and  sixty-four  miles.  All  these  islands 
are  very  fertile.  That  of  Juana  abounds  in  safe 
and  capacious  harbours,  which  surpass  in  excel- 
lence all  I have  ever  seen  elsewhere.  It  is 
watered  by  a great  number  of  large  and  pleasant 
rivers,  and  contains  many  high  mountains. 

These  islands  are  of  a beautiful  appearance,  and 
present  a great  diversity  of  views.  They  may  be 
traversed  in  any  part,  and  are  adorned  with  a 


4 


great  variety  of  exceedingly  lofty  trees,  which  to 
appearance  never  lose  their  foliage,  for  I saw  them 
as  verdant  and  flourishing  as  they  exist  in  Spain 
in  the  month  of  May,  some  covered  with  flowers, 
others  loaded  with  fruit,  according  to  their  differ- 
ent species  and  their  season  of  bearing,  the  whole 
offering  a spectacle  of  great  beauty.  The  night- 
ingale and  countless  other  birds  were  singing, 
although  it  was  the  month  of  November  when  1 
visited  this  delightful  region.  There  are,  in  the 
island  of  Juana,  six  or  eight  sorts  of  palm  trees, 
superior  to  those  of  our  land  in  height  and  beauty, 
and  this  superiority  is  likewise  observable  in  the 
other  trees  as  well  as  in  the  herbs  and  fruits. 
Here  are  to  be  seen  the  most  beautiful  pine  trees 
and  the  most  extensive  fields  and  pastures,  a great 
variety  of  birds,  several  sorts  of  honey,  and  many 
kinds  of  metal,  with  the  exception  of  iron.  In  the 
island  named  Espanola  there  are  lofty  and  beauti- 
ful mountains,  large  cultivated  tracts,  woods,  fer- 
tile fields,  and  everything  adapted  to  the  purposes 
of  agriculture,  the  pasturage  of  cattle,  and  the 
erection  of  houses.  The  excellence  of  the  har- 
bours here,  and  the  abundance  of  the  streams 
which  contribute  to  the  salubrity  of  the  climate, 


5 


exceed  imagination.  There  is  a considerable  dif- 
ference between  the  trees,  fruits,  and  fields  of  this 
island  and  those  of  Juana,  but  here  are  found  divers 
sorts  of  precious  drugs,  gold,  and  metals.  The 
inhabitants  of  both  sexes,  in  Espanola,  and  all  the 
other  islands  which  1 saw  or  heard  of,  go  naked 
as  they  were  born,  all  except  a few  females  who 
wear  at  the  waist  a green  leaf,  a portion  of  cotton, 
or  bit  of  silk,  which  they  manufacture  for  this  pur- 
pose. 

As  I before  remarked,  they  possess  no  iron,  and 
they  neither  use  nor  are  acquainted  with  weapons, 
to  the  exercise  of  which  indeed  they  are  not  at 
all  adapted,  not  by  reason  of  any  corporal  defi- 
ciency, as  they  are  very  well  shaped,  but  on  ac- 
count of  their  great  timidity.  Instead  of  arms 
they  have  canes  dried  in  the  sun,  to  the  largest 
ends  of  which  they  fix  a piece  of  wood  sharpened 
at  the  end;  of  these,  however,  they  have  not  the 
courage  to  make  much  use.  1 have  in  many  in- 
stances sent  two  or  three  of  my  men  to  their 
towns  to  communicate  with  the  inhabitants, 
when  the  Indians  would  tumultuously  rush  out, 
and  seeing  our  people  drawing  near,  run  away 
v/ith  such  haste  that  the  father  would  abandon 


6 


his  child  and  the  child  his  father.  This  timidity 
was  not  owing  to  any  violence  or  injury  we  of- 
fered them,  as  1 was  in  the  practice  of  making 
presents  of  clolh  and  other  things  to  all  the  natives 
whom  I met,  but  arose  from  their  natural  mildness 
and  want  of  courage.  Notwithstanding  this,  as 
soon  as  they  have  thrown  aside  their  fear,  and 
consider  themselves  in  safety,  they  are  very  in- 
genuous and  honest,  and  display  great  liberality 
with  whatever  they  possess. 

They  never  refuse  to  give  any  thing  away  which 
is  demanded  of  them,  and  will  even  themselves 
entreat  an  acceptance  of  their  property.  They 
exhibit  a great  friendship  towards  every  one,  and 
will  give  whatever  they  have  for  a trifle  or  nothing 
at  all.  1 forbade  my  men  to  purchase  any  thing 
of  them  with  such  worthless  articles  as  bits  of 
earthenware,  fragments  of  platters,  broken  glass, 
nails,  and  thongs  of  leather,  although  when  they 
got  possession  of  any  such  thing  they  valued  it  as 
highly  as  the  most  precious  jewel  in  the  world. 
In  this  manner  of  bartering,  a sailor  has  acquired 
for  a leather  strap  or  piece  of  rope,  gold  to  the 
amount  of  three  sueldos.  Others  have  obtained 
as  much  for  a matter  of  still  lower  value.  For 


7 


new  Spanish  coins  they  would  give  any  thing 
asked  of  them,  as  an  ounce  and  a half  or  two 
ounces  of  gold,  or  thirty  or  forty  pounds  of  cot- 
ton. Thus  they  would  trade  away  their  cotton 
and  gold  like  idiots,  for  broken  hoops,  platters 
and  glass.  I prohibited  their  traffic  on  account  of 
its  injustice,  and  made  them  many  presents  of 
useful  things  which  I had  carried  with  me,  for  the 
purpose  of  gaining  their  affection,  in  order  that 
they  may  receive  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ,  be  well 
disposed  towards  us,  and  be  inclined  to  submit  to 
the  King  and  Queen,  our  Princes,  and  all  the 
Spaniards,  and  furthermore  that  they  may  furnish 
us  with  the  commodities  which  abound  among 
them  and  we  are  in  want  of. 

They  are  not  idolators,  but  believe  that  all  power 
and  goodness  is  in  heaven,  and  that  1 had  pro- 
ceeded from  that  place  with  my  ships  and  men ; 
under  this  notion  they  received  me  at  my  first 
arrival  as  soon  as  they  had  banished  their  fear. 
They  are  not  stupid  and  indolent,  but  acute  and 
sagacious.  Those  of  them  who  navigate  the  seas 
among  those  islands  give  singular  accounts  of 
what  they  have  observed  upon  their  voyages,  but 
have  never  seen  people  who  wear  clothes,  nor 


8 


any  ships  similar  to  ours.  On  my  arrival  1 took 
by  force  from  the  first  island  a few  of  the  Indians, 
in  order  that  we  might  become  acquainted  with 
one  another’s  language,  and  to  gain  a knowledge 
of  what  their  country  contained.  These  were  of 
singular  use  to  us,  as  we  came  to  understand  each 
other  in  a short  time  by  the  help  of  words  and 
signs.  I have  them  still  with  me,  and  they  con- 
tinue in  the  belief  that  we  come  from  heaven. 
This  information  they  published  wherever  we  ar- 
rived, exclaiming  in  aloud  voice,  “Come!  come! 
and  see  the  celestial  people.”  Upon  this  call,  the 
natives  would  come  thronging  to  us,  after  having 
banished  the  fear  which  seized  them  at  first,  men, 
women  and  children,  old  and  young,  crowding 
the  roads  and  bringing  us  victuals  and  drink,  with 
the  utmost  affection  and  reverence. 

In  every  one  of  these  islands  there  are  a great 
number  of  canoes,  each  one  made  of  a solid  log,  of  a 
narrow  shape,  somewhat  resembling  our  fustas, 
but  swifter  in  the  water;  they  are  navigated  solely 
by  oars.  They  are  of  different  sizes,  the  most  of 
them  containing  seats  for  eighteen  rowers. 
Throughout  these  islands  there  is  no  diversity  in 
the  appearance  of  the  people,  their  manners  or 


9 


i 


language,  all  the  inhabitants  understanding  one 
another;  a very  favorable  circumstance,  in  my 
opinion,  to  the  design  which  1 have  no  doubt  is 
entertained  by  our  king,  namely,  to  convert  them 
to  the  holy  Christian  faith,  to  which  as  far  as  I can 
perceive  they  are  well  disposed.  1 have  said  that 
1 sailed  from  W.  to  E.  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  miles  along  the  island  of  Juana;  from  the 
length  of  this  course  I am  confident  that  this  island 
is  larger  than  England  and  Scotland  together,  for 
besides  the  extent  which  1 coasted  there  are  two 
other  provinces  to  the  West  which  1 did  not  sur- 
vey. One  of  these  is  named  by  the  Indians  Anam, 
and  contains  inhabitants  with  tails.  These  tracts 
extend  to  the  distance  of  a hundred  and  eighty 
miles,  as  1 have  learnt  from  the  Indians  with  me, 
who  are  well  acquainted  with  them. 

The  island  of  Espanola  is  as  large  as  that  part 
of  Spain  which  extends  from  Catalonia  to  Fonta- 
rabia,  which  1 infer  from  the  extent  of  that  side  of 
it  which  I sailed  along,  being  five  hundred  and 
forty  miles  in  length.  I took  possession  of  this 
fine  island,  as  1 had  done  of  the  others,  in  the  name 
of  our  invincible  king  ; and  fixed  upon  a spot  for 
a large  city  here,  as  I judged  it  the  most  favorable 


IO 


\ 


place.  1 called  it  Navidad,  and  ordered  the  con- 
struction of  a fortress  here,  which  is  by  this  time 
finished.  At  this  place  I left  a sufficient  number 
of  men,  with  all  sorts  of  arms,  and  a sufficiency 
of  provisions  for  above  a year.  I also  left  them  a 
caravel  and  expert  workmen,  after  having  secured 
them  the  friendship  of  the  king  of  this  part  of  the 
country.  The  people  are  a friendly  and  amiable 
race,  and  the  king  took  a pride  in  calling  himself 
my  brother.  Even  if  their  sentiments  should 
change,  and  they  should  become  hostile  towards 
us,  they  will  not  be  able  to  effect  any  injury  to 
those  who  remain  at  the  fortress,  as  they  are  des- 
titute of  weapons,  go  naked,  and  are  very  cow- 
ardly, so  that  those  whom  1 have  left  there  will 
be  able  to  retain  the  whole  island  in  subjection 
without  any  danger,  if  they  adhere  to  the  regula- 
tions with  which  1 charged  them. 

Each  of  the  natives,  as  far  as  1 can  understand, 
has  one  wife,  with  the  exception  of  the  King  and 
Princes,  who  are  permitted  to  have  as  many  as 
twenty.  The  women  appear  to  do  more  labour 
than  the  men.  Whether  there  exists  any  such 
thing  here  as  private  property  1 have  not  been  able 
to  ascertain,  as  I have  observed  that  an  individual 


i 


II 


has  been  set  to  distribute  to  the  others,  in  particular, 
food  and  such  things.  1 found  no  ferocious,  san- 
guinary people  in  these  parts,  as  some  seem  to  have 
imagined  the  people  here  to  be,  but  they  are  a very 
mild  and  friendly  race.  Their  color  is  not  black 
like  that  of  the  Ethiopians.  Their  hair  is  lank 
and  hanging  down.  They  do  not  inhabit  those 
parts  where  the  sun’s  rays  are  very  powerful,  as 
the  heat  is  excessive  here,  the  latitude  being  ap- 
parently twenty-six  degrees.  On  the  summits  of 
the  mountains  the  cold  is  great,  but  they  do  not 
suffer  any  incommodity  from  it,  by  being  accus- 
tomed to  the  climate,  and  by  the  use  of  hot  meats 
and  drinks,  which  they  consume  very  prodigally. 

People  of  a monstrous  description  1 saw  none 
nor  heard  of  any,  except  those  of  the  island  named 
Caris,  which  is  the  second  on  the  course  from  Es- 
panola  to  India;  this  island  is  inhabited  by  people 
who  are  regarded  by  their  neighbors  as  exceed- 
ingly ferocious;  they  feed  upon  human  flesh. 
These  people  have  many  sorts  of  canoes,  with 
which  they  make  incursions  upon  all  the  isles  of 
India,  robbing  and  plundering  wherever  they  go. 
Their  difference  from  the  others  consists  in  their 
wearing  long  hair  like  that  of  the  women,  and 


12 


in  using  bows  and  arrows  of  cane,  these  last  con- 
structed, as  1 have  already  related,  by  fixing  a piece 
of  sharpened  wood  at  the  larger  end.  On  this  ac- 
count they  are  deemed  very  ferocious  by  the  other 
Indians,  and  are  much  feared  by  them;  I think, 
however,  these  men  are  precisely  like  the  others. 
These  are  the  natives  who  go  to  visit  the  females, 
who  are  the  sole  inhabitants,  of  the  island  of  Ma- 
tenin,  which  is  the  first  on  the  route  from  Espa- 
nola  to  India.  These  women  exercise  none  of  the 
common  occupations  of  their  sex,  but  manage  the 
bow  and  dart,  as  we  are  told  of  the  ancients. 
They  wear  armour  made  of  plates  of  copper,  of 
which  metal  they  have  great  abundance. 

I am  assured  by  the  Indians  that  there  is  another 
island,  larger  than  Espanola,  whose  inhabitants 
are  without  hair,  and  who  possess  a greater  quan- 
tity of  gold  than  the  others.  From  this  island,  as 
well  as  the  others,  I have  taken  some  of  the  in- 
habitants to  confirm  the  accounts  which  I give. 

Finally,  to  sum  up  the  whole,  and  state  briefly 
the  great  profits  of  this  voyage,  1 am  enabled  to 
promise  the  acquisition,  by  a trifling  assistance 
from  their  Majesties,  of  any  quantity  of  gold, 
drugs,  cotton,  and  mastick,  which  last  article  is 


J3 


found  only  in  the  island  of  Scio;  also  any  quantity 
of  aloe,  and  as  many  slaves  for  the  service  of  the 
marine  as  their  Majesties  may  stand  in  need  of. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  rhubarb,  and  a great 
variety  of  other  things,  which,  1 have  no  doubt, 
will  be  discovered  by  those  I have  left  at  the  fort, 
as  I did  not  stop  long  at  any  single  place,  unless 
obliged  to  do  so  by  the  weather,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  city  of  Navidad,  where  we  made  some 
stay  to  build  the  fort  and  provide  the  necessary 
securities  for  the  place. 

Although  the  discoveries  actually  accomplished 
appear  great  and  surprising,  yet  1 should  have  ef- 
fected much  more  had  I been  furnished  with  a 
properfleet.  Nevertheless,  the  great  success  of  this 
enterprise  is  not  to  be  ascribed  to  my  own  merits, 
but  to  the  holy  Catholic  faith  and  the  piety  of 
our  Sovereigns,  the  Lord  often  granting  to  men 
what  they  never  imagine  themselves  capable  of 
effecting,  as  he  is  accustomed  to  hear  the  prayers 
of  his  servants  and  those  who  love  his  command- 
ments, even  in  that  which  appears  impossible;  in 
this  manner  has  it  happened  to  me,  who  have 
succeeded  in  an  undertaking  never  before  ac- 
complished by  man.  For  although  some  persons 


14 


have  written  or  spoken  of  the  existence  of  these 
islands,  they  have  all  rested  their  assertions  upon 
conjecture,  no  one  having  ever  affirmed  that  he 
saw  them,  on  which  account  their  existence  has 
been  deemed  fabulous. 

And  now  ought  the  King,  Queen,  Princes,  and 
all  their  dominions,  as  well  as  the  whole  of 
Christendom,  to  give  thanks  to  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  who  has  granted  us  such  a victory  and 
great  success.  Let  processions  be  ordered,  let 
solemn  festivals  be  celebrated,  let  the  temples  be 
filled  with  boughs  and  flowers.  Let  Christ  rejoice 
upon  earth  as  he  does  in  heaven,  to  witness  the 
coming  salvation  of  so  many  people  heretofore 
given  over  to  perdition.  Let  us  rejoice  for  the 
exaltation  of  our  faith,  as  well  as  for  the  augmen- 
tation of  our  temporal  prosperity,  in  which  not 
only  Spain,  but  all  Christendom  shall  participate. 
Such  are  the  events  which  1 have  described  to  you 
with  brevity.  Adieu. 

Christopher  Columbus, 

Admiral  of  the  Armada  of  the  Ocean. 

Lisbon,  March  14th. 


t 

n 


* 


Date  Due 


Form  335.  45M  8-37. 


975.15  G 726 3D  320370 

Columbus 

Letter 


973.15  C726SD  320370 


l 


